Among Americans who believe their personal finances are getting better, 67% say that faith and religion are Very Important in their lives. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also found that, among those whose finances are getting worse, 55% consider faith and religion that important.

The survey also found that those who are optimistic about their finances are also more likely than others to pray, read the Bible, and attend Church. Fifty-one percent (51%) of those who say their finances are getting better say they attend religious services at least once a week. Only 31% of those who are pessimistic about their finances attend so faithfully.

Most (56%) of those who are pessimistic about their finances say they rarely or never read the Bible. Most (58%) who are optimistic say they read the Bible at least once a week. That figure includes 22% who read daily or nearly every day.

Similar patterns were found across a variety of definitions of economic optimism or pessimism.

Among those who are worried about losing their job, 47% consider faith and religion Very Important. Among those not worried about job loss, 58% consider it that important.

Among those working for companies that are laying people off, 22% attend Church or religious services at least once a week. Among those who work for companies that are hiring new workers, 45% attend services that often.

Among those happy with their job, 18% read the Bible daily or nearly every day. Among those who are unhappy with their jobs. Just 9% read that faithfully.

Overall, among all Americans, 59% say that faith and religion are very important in their lives. That figure includes 67% of women and 51% of men; 73% of Republicans, 57% of Democrats, and 46% of those not affiliated with either major party. Eighty-six percent (86%) of African-Americans consider faith that important along with 55% of White Americans and 58% of other Americans. So do 58% of Investors and 60% of non-Investors. Those over 65 are more likely to consider faith and religion Very Important than younger voters.

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